Gaspar de Guzman

Gaspar de Guzman y Pimentel Ribera y Velasco de Tovar, Count of Olivares and San Lucar la Mayor, Grandee of Spain (6 January 1587-22 July 1645) was Prime Minister of the Spanish Empire from 1621 to 1643. He over-exerted Spain in foreign affairs, joining the Thirty Years War and renewing the fighting in the Dutch Revolt in the first year of his tenure. High taxation led to rebellions in Catalonia and Portugal, bringing about his fall.

Biography
Guzman was born in Rome in the Papal States, the son of Spanish diplomat Enrique de Guzman. In 1599 he became a student rector at Salamanca University upon returning home following his mother's death, and despite his lack of administrative skills, he was appointed Prime Minister of Spain by Felipe III of Spain in 1621. He renewed warfare with the United Provinces in the Eighty Years War and sent Spanish armies to assist the Holy Roman Empire in campaigns against Protestants in Germany during the Thirty Years War, over-exerting Spain in foreign affairs. Guzman's focusing of resources in the Netherlands not only drained Spain's food and manpower, but also led to defeats in Germany, especially against Sweden. High taxation of the Spanish provinces led to rebellions in Catalonia and Portugal, ending the Iberian Union in 1640. In 1643, after the decisive French victory at the Battle of Rocroi against Spain in the Low Countries, he was sacked.